What If

plot

WHAT IF is the story of medical school dropout Wallace, who's been repeatedly burned by bad relationships. So while everyone around him, including his roommate Allan seems to be finding the perfect partner, Wallace decides to put his love life on hold. It is then that he meets Chantry an animator who lives with her longtime b...more

WHAT IF is the story of medical school dropout Wallace, who's been repeatedly burned by bad relationships. So while everyone around him, including his roommate Allan seems to be finding the perfect partner, Wallace decides to put his love life on hold. It is then that he meets Chantry an animator who lives with her longtime boyfriend Ben. Wallace and Chantry form an instant connection, striking up a close friendship. Still, there is no denying the chemistry between them, leading the pair to wonder, what if the love of your life is actually your best friend? less

Verdict

“It's a witty, amusing, endearing and totally predictable romantic comedy. All in all, What If makes for a very decent date movie!”

Cast (in credits order)

What If Audience Review

Canoodling over conversation

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Conversation. Conversation. Conversation. What If, is nothing but that. From the time a jilted Wallace chats up with jolly Chantry, thanks to cousin Allen, they chat, chat, like there is never tomorrow, making it one downhill ride into ennui and exasperation till the two tie say I Do precisely 86 minutes later.

Sadly, Michael Dowse's What If, turns out a hollow and humdrum excursion into Analyse This thing of Being Friends and nothing more, nothing less.

While the premise was perfect, it is the execution that goes kaput. Teetering into pretentiousness and silly pontification even as two platonic pals' heart palpitate to the same cupid beat.

Neither remotely engaging nor entertaining by any stretch, Dowse's What if is a fine example of how a romantic comedy should not be or even try to be.

Instead of eliciting roaring chuckles, all that the film evokes, is sniffles and sniggers, as to when the whole drab drama would end, as you squirm in your seats stifling the pent up violent feeling waiting to erupt like a volcano.

Of course, Daniel Radcliffe of Harry Potter fame, and Zoe Kazan are as endearing, edible and enticing as a cutie pie and candy floss. But their presence and theatrics in denial, even as their eyes and hearts tell a different tale, is not enough for What if to have audiences rooting for it, hook, line and sinker.

"I am not trying to break them up, I am just being friends," is one of the dime a dozen lines What If throws up every now and then of its screen time as Wallace and Chantry eat, talk, walk, sleep and split their hairs over being friends.

Here's another example of a Wallace's litany over friendship with women: This is my cousin who cannot interact with women without sex, but I can." Or this gem: Love makes you the worst of friends, wherein you lie, cheat and hurt because you area in love." Chantry coos: Don't be cynical.

Well I have had my say about What If, if still you would like to bet your money and time on being bored to death then just troop in to a theatre near you. Rider: Don't forget to order sizeable quantities of popcorns, pizzas and burgers besides tissue papers and plug your ears with muffs as you watch Dowse's fussy take on friendship.